The 'Softer World' of Helen Rice

Helen Rice is inspired by design, architecture, textures, patterns and nature.

Her dreamy sketches and paintings are created on wood and masonite, each frame custom made by her father.

This weekend, Rice is combining forces with three other Charleston women at Eye Level Art for its "A Softer World" exhibit.

The other artists are Kristy Bishop, Stacy Bradley and Shelley Smith.

This exhibition explores the organic and feminine nature in each of their work.

Rice uses colored pencil, gouache, marker and house paint in the works she has featured at the gallery. Recently, one of her pieces was published in Studio Visit Magazine.

"I tend to work in short spurts," she said about her creative process. "Sometimes I'll be close to finishing a piece, and the next day I'll hate it and wash out large portions and begin again. I've found that my favorite pieces take the least amount of time to make."

Deadlines, household materials and other artist's work inspire Rice and her ethereal creations.

She is interested in exploring woodworking and 3D art.

By day, Rice is a graphic and web designer at Fuzzco, a company that she started in 2005 with her partner.

Her blog (www.helenrice.com) is a work of art unto itself.

To meet the artist and view her work in "A Softer World," go to Eye Level Art at 87 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to the public.

Next Event: 7 p.m. July 30 at Eye Level Art, 103 Spring Street. Free.

Website: www.hiiin.com.

Blog: www.helenrice.com.

Contact Info: helenrice@gmail.com.

Birth date and place: July 1981.

Residence: Downtown Charleston.

Family: Mother, Grace Rice; father, David Rice; sister, Caroline Rice.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in studio art, Macalester College, Minnesota, 2003.

Career: Partner at Fuzzco, Artist.

Goals: I'd like to be published in Charleston Magazine and New American Paintings by the end of 2010.

book reading now: "The Wind-up Bird Chronicle" by Haruki Murakami.

Influences: Francis Bacon, Egon Schiele, Frank Stella, Andrew Wyeth.

Price Range: $250-$600

Where artwork is featured locally: Eye Level Art, 103 Spring St.